54 THE CHRONICLES OF A GARDEN. 



even of the common sorts ; but much may be done by 

 never despising any flower because it is common, and 

 by having those common things in greater number, and 

 allowing them to grow to a larger size than a regular 

 gardener will approve of. The following plan for planting 

 a garden seems to promise well in this respect ; it is ex- 

 tracted from the Cottage Gardener^ a work from which 

 all amateur gardeners will derive much pleasure and in- 

 struction. The garden described is said to be a " grass- 

 garden," much admired for being so constantly gay : — 



"Around every bed, at about three inches from the 

 grass, there is a complete and thick border of crocuses, of 

 all colours mixed — the yellow begin in February, and the 

 purple and white continue till April, closing over the 

 yellow as they wither ; and as the beds interlace each 

 other, nothing can be more gay or beautiful than this 

 bloom with a number of diff'erent hepaticas and early 

 heaths in the beds. At about six inches within the crocus- 

 hedge, and eight inches from each other, are planted double 

 tulips, (chiefly Ilex ruhrorum and double-yellow ;) like the 

 crocuses, surrounding every bed, and being, like them, only 

 disturbed every three or four years, they form thick clumps, 

 with several flowers on each. Between each of these tulip- 

 plants or clumps, and in the same line, are plants of anemones 

 or hyacinths. These are to succeed the crocuses, and form, 

 with a little help from purple primroses, &c., my April 

 bloom. It is not quite so brilliant as my March and May 

 bloom, but still is gay. As these fade, the tulip-bloom in 

 May comes on, and as these close over the fading anemones 



